The accused was charged with uttering threats to cause death, assault with a weapon (hammer), and simple assault against his spouse.
The Crown's case rested entirely on the testimony of the complainant, while the defence called the accused and a police officer.
The trial involved a credibility assessment of conflicting accounts regarding three alleged incidents: a threat to kill and bury the complainant, an attack with a hammer at a trailer, and a kitchen assault.
The court found significant inconsistencies in the complainant's evidence, particularly regarding a statement made on the eve of trial that appeared to conflate separate incidents.
Despite finding the complainant largely credible, the court determined that reasonable doubt existed on all charges due to unexplained inconsistencies, the erratic nature of the complainant's testimony, and ambiguities in the medical evidence.